| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Rathasapha / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Saphaphuthan Ratsadon / House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Wuthisapha / Senate
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the House of Representatives |
| Term |
- duration: 4 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, loss of mandate following a resolution adopted by the House, elimination of the political party to which the Speaker belongs by order of the Court and if the Speaker does not join another party in the 60 days following the decision of the Court, sentencing to imprisonment by judgment of the Court unless the case involves a misdeamonour due to negligence or or a petty offence, death, dissolution of the House.
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the House
- election held at the first normal sitting of the newly elected House
- after validation of mandates
|
| Eligibility |
- any Member may be a candidate
|
| Voting system |
- formal vote by public ballot
- if there are several nominees, voting is taken by roll call in alphabetical order
- a simple majority is required
- only one round of voting is held
|
| Procedures / results |
- the most senior Member presides over the House during the voting
- the most senior Member supervises the voting
- the most senior Member announces the results without delay
- the Secretary General of the House informs the Prime Minister of the name of the winning candidate for further presentation to the King
- the results can be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks before the President of the Senate in the order of precedence
- presides over joint sittings of both Houses
- represents the House with the authorities
- represents the House in international bodies
- is ex officio President of the Constitutional Court
- is ex officio President of the Parliamentary Services Committee
- in the absence of the Speaker, the first Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions, and in his/her absence, the second Deputy Speaker
|
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- yearly allowance: 768,000 Bath (around US$ 35,040)
+ expense allowance: 600,000 Bath/yr (around US$ 24,000)
- official car
- secretariat
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- establishes and modifies the agenda, in accordance with the Standing Orders of the House
- organizes the debates and only sets speaking time for extraordinary sessions
- can examine the admissibility of bills and amendments
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the House
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- can give and withdraw permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated, in accordance with the Standing Orders of the House
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the House, based on precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
|
| Special powers |
- adopts the budget of the House
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Secretary General
- advises the Secretary General on organizing the services of the House
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the House
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- can take the floor in legislative debates
- can provide guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- can intervene in the parliamentary oversight procedure
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
